OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 24! 



otherwise plain; a few inconspicuous bristles about 

 rictus, ordinarily somewhat lacking, in some, highly 

 developed. The wings are composed of nine 

 developed primaries, variable in size; the tail is 

 variable but always composed of twelve rectrices; 

 feet scutellate in front and covered on side with 

 an undivided plate which produces a sharp ridge 

 posteriorly. The most tangible character is the 

 angulation of the commissure; this character runs 

 in a straight line or with slight curvature to or 

 near the base of the bill, and then bends abruptly 

 downward at varying" angles. The cutting edge of 

 the upper mandible forms a re-entrance, lower a 

 corresponding salience. This character separates 

 the group pretty sharply from other Oscines, except 

 the Icteriida. Our species might be thrown into 

 several groups, but the distinctions are more or 

 less arbitrary. The division of the family is but 

 a conventional matter at present. 



It includes all sparrows with allied finches, 

 buntings, linnets, grosbeaks, and crossbills. 

 There are 71 well-determined species referrible 

 to 34 genera in North America. They are mainly 

 grariivorous, but occasionally subsist upon buds 

 of trees, berries, and insects. The species which 

 are more or less abundant in Eastern Pennsyl- 

 vania, we shall now proceed to mention in the 

 order of their systematic arrangement, giving a 

 detailed and succinct account of the habits of each. 



